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The problem, at least for some, is giving up the discretion to decide what "being a jerk" is. Once you've let others decide the list of things that are jerkish,

The problem, at least for some, is giving up the discretion to decide what "being a jerk" is. Once you've let others decide the list of things that are jerkish, you've also given them the power to put their idea of political dissent on that list. You don't need political correctness to realize when you've been a jerk to someone.

IntronExon 9y ago
You don't need political correctness to realize when you've been a jerk to someone. Some people seem like they need it, or maybe even a carer to let them know. They’re not as bad as people who think that being abrasive and lacking social skills is some secret sauce on their “brilliance,” which you get too much in medicine, tech, and STEM in general. It isn’t the secret sauce, it’s what some people are willing to tolerate during your productive years, sometimes.
s73v3r_ 9y ago
I believe we can come up with at least some pretty standard definitions of "being a jerk". Telling a racist joke where the point is to dehumanize the targeted race? That's pretty clearly being a jerk. Purposefully misgendering a trans person? Again, very clearly being a jerk (this doesn't count the situation where you don't actually know what gender, and accidentally use the wrong one, but it would count if you then stuck to your mistake, and obstinately refused to correct it).
- moduspol 9y ago
  How about not supporting BLM because one feels like the focus is incorrectly placed on police officers instead of high black-on-black murder rates in inner cities? Is that "being a jerk?"
- Slansitartop 9y ago
  > Purposefully misgendering a trans person? Again, very clearly being a jerk Your statement is more an attempt to establish a new norm and less an articulation of a well-established one. It's not unlikely that you'll encounter someone for which it's unknown as such.
- mantas 9y ago
  And there's a complicate split between just telling a race-base joke and "dehumanizing". As well as just going by what you perceive as other person's gender vs v doing that on purpose.

IntronExon 9y ago

You don't need political correctness to realize when you've been a jerk to someone. Some people seem like they need it, or maybe even a carer to let them know. They’re not as bad as people who think that being abrasive and lacking social skills is some secret sauce on their “brilliance,” which you get too much in medicine, tech, and STEM in general. It isn’t the secret sauce, it’s what some people are willing to tolerate during your productive years, sometimes.

s73v3r_ 9y ago

I believe we can come up with at least some pretty standard definitions of "being a jerk". Telling a racist joke where the point is to dehumanize the targeted race? That's pretty clearly being a jerk. Purposefully misgendering a trans person? Again, very clearly being a jerk (this doesn't count the situation where you don't actually know what gender, and accidentally use the wrong one, but it would count if you then stuck to your mistake, and obstinately refused to correct it).

moduspol 9y ago
How about not supporting BLM because one feels like the focus is incorrectly placed on police officers instead of high black-on-black murder rates in inner cities? Is that "being a jerk?"
Slansitartop 9y ago
> Purposefully misgendering a trans person? Again, very clearly being a jerk Your statement is more an attempt to establish a new norm and less an articulation of a well-established one. It's not unlikely that you'll encounter someone for which it's unknown as such.
mantas 9y ago
And there's a complicate split between just telling a race-base joke and "dehumanizing". As well as just going by what you perceive as other person's gender vs v doing that on purpose.